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Minister Morneau Announces New Investments in Rural Broadband

March 29, 2016 – Saint-Valentin, Quebec – Department of Finance

Finance Minister Bill Morneau announced new investments in rural broadband today in Saint-Valentin, Quebec. This announcement comes as part of the new Government’s first budget, Growing the Middle Class.

Minister Morneau highlighted the Budget 2016 investment of up to $500 million over five years, starting in 2016–17, to extend and enhance broadband service in rural and remote communities. This announcement delivers on the Government’s priority of increasing high-speed internet coverage to Canadians in rural and remote communities, to ensure they are equipped to participate in the digital economy and to take advantage of advances in telehealth, e-learning and remote access to government services.

Minister Morneau also emphasized the new Canada Child Benefit, which will give nine out of ten Canadian families more money than under the current system of child benefits to help with the high cost of raising their children. He added that the Canada Child Benefit will be simpler, tax-free, better targeted to those who need it, and much more generous—families benefiting will see an average increase in child benefits of almost $2,300 in the 2016–17 benefit year. The Canada Child Benefit builds on one of the Government’s first actions: introducing the middle class tax cut from which nearly 9 million Canadians are benefiting, and raising taxes on the wealthiest Canadians to help pay for it.

Earlier today, Minister Morneau addressed Quebec business leaders at the Chambre de commerce et d’industrie de la Rive-Sud, where he discussed the state of the economy, and budget measures that will benefit Canada as a whole, and Quebec, including the Government’s historic plan to invest more than $120 billion in infrastructure over the next 10 years, which will create a more modern, cleaner economy, a more inclusive society, and an economy better-positioned to capitalize on the potential of global trade.

Quote

“Growing the middle class includes ensuring that Canada’s rural communities participate and thrive in today’s digital economy. Most Canadians have a strong online presence, and today’s announcement will help provide Canadians living in rural areas—and the small businesses they operate—the same opportunity as those living in urban areas to connect with the world and with each other.”

- Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance

Quick Facts

Quebec will directly benefit from Budget 2016 in the following ways:

$2.3 billion more in child benefits through the new Canada Child Benefit during the 2016–17 to 2017–18 period;

Up to $924 million to upgrade and improve public transit systems;

$280 million in federal tax relief over the 2015–16 to 2017–18 period from restoring the Labour-Sponsored Venture Capital Corporations tax credit;

$50 million over five years, starting in 2016–17, to support the National Optics Institute’s work with Canadian businesses;

$15.3 million over the 2015–16 to 2017–18 period from introducing a Teacher and Early Childhood Educator School Supply Tax Credit; and

$7.5 million in federal tax relief over the 2015–16 to 2017–18 period from increasing the Northern Residents Deduction.